Telephone system.



F. L. FISHER.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-24.19lfi.

1,285,969. Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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F. L. FiSHER.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-24.1916.

1 ,285,969 Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Frank L.

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TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-24.1916.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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(It map UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRAII K L. FISHER, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAMNAY BOG-GESS, 0F DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Specification of Iietters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26,1918.

Application filed January 24, 1916. Serial No. 73,955.

1 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK L. FISHER, aresident of Decatur, county of Macon, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Systems, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a telephone system andparticularly to prepay boxes designed for use in automatic systems, thatis systems wherein automatic signaling means at subscribers stations andselective mechanism is used at a central station, instead of operators.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a prepay boxin which signaling impulses can not be transmitted over the lineprevious to the deposit of the proper coin and having means andconnections whereby the coin is deposited in the safe when the receiveris removed from the receiver hook at the called station, and, wherebythe coin is deposited in the return tray if the receiver at the callingstation is replaced on its receiver hook before the removal of that ofthe called station and also if a call is attempted in a party line thatis busy, the coin is deposited in the return tray when the receivers atboth the called and calling stations of the established connection arereplaced on the hooks.

A further object is the provision of such a mechanism in an automatictelephone system whereby the control of the coin is entirely automaticand effective under all working conditions without the necessity of niceand minute adjustment.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a prepay boxincluding a pair of oppositely polarized elcctromagnets operating anarmature to move it in two directions. one to deposit the coin in thesafe and the other in the return tray, and a condenser, all wired to anautomatic telephone set so that the condenser shunts one of the magnetsfor talking purposes until the called station answers when the currentreversed by the connector relays at the central station energizes themagnet sufliciently to operate the armature to deposit the coin in thesafe.

-The connections are also so arranged that the selecting dial is shuntedby one of the magnets until the proper coin is dropped into the slot.the coin resting on a comparatively long lever arm and thereby breakingone contact and making another to establish a circuit whereby theimpulses may be sent out over the line. The connections are also soarranged that when the called station does not answer and the receiverat the calling station is replaced on its book, the other magnet will beenergized to move the armature to cause the coin to be deposited in thereturn tray, this also being true when a station attempts ,to call on aparty line that is already busy.

A further object is the provision of a prepay box wherein the coin issupported until the called station answers or the calling station hangsup, when the proper magnet is energized and the coin positively moved inone direction or the other depending upon the conditions of the circuitsfor deposit in the safe or the return tray.

Further objects include the simplification of details of construction,mechanism and wiring necessary to havecomplete and efiective automaticcontrol over the coin and the provision of a mechanism which requiresthe deposit of the coin before the calling circuit is established.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, my invention consists in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and thensought to be defined in the appended claims, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof and which show for thepurpose of illustrative disclosure a. preferred embodiment of myinvention, it

' being understood that various changes may be made in practice withinthe scope of the claims without digressing from my inventive idea.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a prepay box constructedaccording to my invention, the cover being removed and parts broken awayto facilitate disclosure.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the right hand side of the same showing thecoin ways.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1 looking in directionof the arrow.

Fig. l is a horizontal section taken on line of Fig. 3, the coils of themagnets being shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line of Fig. 3.

Fig. (3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1 showing thespring contacts and operatinglever arm.

Fig. 7 is aside elevation of the left hand side of the box as a whole.-

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of the telephone set and prepaybox at a subscribers station, showing the condition of the circuits withthe receiver removed from its hook and the coin placed in the slot andsupported on the lever arm.

I have not illustrated in detail the set at a station, as that is of thestandard construction used in automatic systems at present installed,however the coin or prepay box with its contained mechanism and wiringis shown fully and completely. However in Fig. 8, I show a diagram ofthe wiring of the set at astation to which reference is first made, itbeing recalled that in automatic systems lifting the receiver from thehook breaks a contact and makes another contact, and that signalingimpulses are controlled by a selecting mechanism including a dial andvarious spring contacts. The numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 designatebinding posts or terminals in the telephone instrument itself, and 8 thetransmitter, 9 the receiver and 10 the receiver hook, making connectionalternately with contacts 11 and 12. The selecting mechanism is merelyindicated by contacts 13, 14 and 15. The receiver hook 10 is connectedto terminal 1 by conductor a. Conductor 72 connects terminal 2 tocontact 14 of the selecting mechanism, c connects terminal 3 to contact15, 65 connects terminal 4 to contact 12, e connects terminal 6 to thereceiver 9, f connecting the other side of the receiver with terminal 7,the transmitter 8 also being connected thereto by conductor 9. Conductorh connects contact 11 with terminal 6, conductor 71 placing bothterminal 6 and contact 11 in connection with contact 13 of the selectingmechanism. The other side of the transmitter is "connected to contact14. by conductor k.

The prepay or coin box has a similar series of five terminals or bindingposts designated O, 1*, 2 3 and 4*, terminals 1, 2 and 3 being connectedwith the correspondingly designated terminals 1, 2 and tors 1', 2 and 3To complete the description of the wiring and circuits, I merely mentionsome of the merhanism in the prepay box, still referring to Fig. 8.Mounted therein are the polarized magnets A and B, the condenser C andthe contacts 16, 17, and 18, the latter being a double spring contactnormally in contact with 16, which contact is broken when spring contact16 is raised. Then 18 contacts with 17. The wiring connections of theparts are. as follows: Z connects one side of the condenser C toterminal 0, m connecting the other side of the condenser to one side of3 by conducmagnet A, which side of magnet A is also connected toterminal 3 by conductor n. Conductor p connects the other side of mag:

net A to contact 16 which is also connected to terminal 0 by conductor9. Terminal 2 magnets have the single armature 20 pivoted therebetweenand have the usual spring controlling members permittlng its movement ineither direction when the proper magnet is energized and causing thereturn of the armature to lts normal position.

On the side of the box adjacent the armature ismounted the coin run way21, which begins atthe coin receiving slot 22 and has two termlni, onethe return tray 23 and the other the delivery chute 24 into the safe 25.The

coin is directed positively into one or the other according to thecircuits as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Mounted beneath the magnets A and B is the long operating lever arm 26which is pivoted as at 27 and has its coin supporting end portion 28positioned in the coin runway so that a coin deposited in the slot 22will drop thereon and be supported thereby. The pair of horizontallyextending fingers 29 assist in holding the coin in position on the leverarm. These fingers extend outwardly from the plate supporting member 30which is adjustably secured to the arm 31 depending from the armature,so that when the armature is moved the fingers 29 are moved forcin thecoin one way or the other to its desire place of discharge. The fingersnormally act as stops or abutments, but when they are moved one pushesor forces the coin and the other is withdrawn out of the way, due to thepivotal mounting of the armature.

This lever arm 26 controls the position of contacts 16, 17 and 18, thespring arm 32 carrying the contact 16 being the longest and having theinsulated bearing member on its end which is engaged by the right angledextension 33 of the lever arm 26. The lowest arm 34 is a spring memberhaving contacts 18 thereon and adapted to contact with. either upper arm32 or immediate arm 35 which has contact 17 The normal tendency springarm 34 to move upwardly to cause contacts 17 and 18 to engage. From aconsideration particularly of Fig. 6, it is seen that the lever arm ispivoted near its operating end so that the end on which the coin restsis the longer arm of the lever whereby positive and quick movement ofthe lever occurs on deposit of the coin. The wiring of these parts hasbeen described hereinbefore in connection with the description of Fig.8.

The various circuits under different operating conditions will now beconsidered. When the receiver at the calling station is removed from itshook and before the coin is dropped into the slot the dial is shuntedout by coil A, the circuit being as follows line terminal 1, connector1', terminal 1,

-conductor a, hook 10, contact 11, conductor h, terminal 6, conductor 6,receiver 9, conductor 7", terminal 7, conductor 9, transmitter 8.conductor k, conductor b, terminal 2, connector 2, terminal 2*,conductor '2', contact 18, contact 16, conductor 9, and line terminal 0,so that no impulses Will be sent out over the line to the centralselective mechanism.

When the coin is dropped into the slot 22 and rests on the end of leverarm 26, contacts 16 and 18 will be separated and 17 and 18 connected,the circuit for the selective impulses being as follows :terminal 1*,connector 1", terminal 1, conductor a, hook 10, contact 11, conductorit, terminal 6, con" ductor 6, receiver 9, conductor 7", terminal 7,conductor g, transmitter 8, conductor 70, contacts 14, 15, conductor 0,terminal 3, connector 3", terminal 3, conductor n, coil (magnet) A,conductor p, conductor (1 and line terminal 0. The coil or magnet A isin series with the transmitter and receiver but the current is flowingtherethrough in the wrong direction to energize the same. When thereceiver at the called station is removed from its hook the direction ofthe current is reversed by means of the connector relays at the centralstation and the magnet A energized so that the armature is moved tomovethe fingers 29 to the right in Fig. 2 to cause the coin to drop into thesafe.

If however the receiver at the calling station is replaced on its hookbefore the called station answers the following circuit is established:line terminal 1*, conductor t, coil B, conductor 8, contact 17, contact18, conductor 1", terminal 2*, connector 2", terminal 2, conductor 6,contacts 14 and 15, conductor 0, terminal 3, connector 3", terminal 3conductor a, coil A, conductor p, conductor (1, line terminal 0. Coil Bis therefore energized and the armature moved in the opposite directionso that the fingers 29 are also moved to deposit the coin in the returntray 23. The current flowing through coil A is in the wrong direction toenergize it.

If a call on a party line should be established and a second partywithout first listening should deposit a coin in coin box and attempt tocall, it would in no way interfere with the call previously established.Upon the return of the second parties receiver to the hook and breakingof connection previously established, the coin deposited by the secondparty will be returned to the tray, the circuit being the same as abovedescribed.

It is to be noted that condenser C shunts out coil A for transmissionpurposes only and thereby improves transmission when a connection isestablished with central station telephones and on non-paying calls.Also if contacts 16 and 18 fail to connect properly, condenser C stillpermits efi'ective transmission.

What I claim is:

1. In a telephone system, the combination of talking and listeninginstrumentalities, signaling mechanism, a prepay box, a lever arm forsupporting a coin, electro-magnets for controlling the disposition ofthe coin, an interconnection controlled by the lever arm for the purposeof shunting the signaling mechanism until the lever arm is moved by theweight of a coin thereon; one of the electro-magnets being in the shuntcircuit, and interconnections controlled by the lever arm whereby thetalking and listening instrumentalities are placed in series with saidelectro-magnet while a coin is supported on the lever arm.

2. In a telephone system, the combination of talking and listeninginstrumentalities, signaling mechanism adapted to deliver pulsations ofcurrent to a selector mechanism, a prepay box, a lever arm pivotallymounted in the prepay box and adapted to receive and be moved by a coin,a polarized electro-mag net, having an armature, means connected withsaid armature for positively moving the coin in either direction toreturn or dc posit the same, movable contacts operated by said leverarm, interconnections between said contacts, saidelectro-magnet and saidsignaling mechanism for the purpose of rendering the latter ineffectiveto deliver pulsations of current to the selector mechanism .until a coinmoves the lever arm, interconsignaling mechanism, a prepay box, a leverarm pivotally mounted therein and adapted to receive and be depressed bythe weight of a coin, a pair of oppositely polarized electromagnetshaving a common armature pivotally mounted, means connected to saidarmature for holding the coin on the lever arm when the armature is inits normal position and for moving the coin in either directionpositively according to the movement of the armature, one of theelectro-magnets being energized when a connection with the calledstation is established so that the coin is moved to bev deposited, theother electromagnet being energized when the receiver 7 of the callingstation is replaced on its hook before the connection is establishedwith a. called station so as to move the coin forreturn.

5. In a telephone system, the combination of talking and listeninginstrumentalities, signaling mechanism, a prepay box, a lever armpivotally mounted therein and adapted to receive and be depressed by theweight of a coin, a pair of oppositely polarized electromagnets having acommon armature pivotally mounted, means connected to said armature forholding the coin on the lever arm when the armature is in itsnormalposition, and for moving the coin in either direction positivelyaccording to the movement of the armature, one of the electro-magnetsbeing energized when a connection with the called station is establishedso that the coin is moved to be deposited, the other electromagnet beingenergized when the receiver of the calling station is replaced on itshook before the connection is established with a called station-so as tomove the coin for return, movable contacts actuated by said lever arm,and interconnections between said talking and listeninginstrumentalities, signaling mechanism, and electro-magnets, and movablecontacts, whereby the signaling mechanism is shunted out until the leverarm is moved by the coin and whereby the talking and listeninginstrumentalities and the .first mentioned electro-magnet are placed inseries when the lever arm 1s moved by the deposit-of the coin.

6. In a telephone system, the comblnatlon of talking and listeninginstrumentalities,

signaling mechanism, a prepay box, a lever naaaeea arm pivotally mountedtherein and adapted to receive and be moved by a coin for closing acircuit including the signaling mechanism,

a polarized electro-magnet included in the circuit and having a pivotedarmature, means connected to said armature for positively moving saidcoin so that it will drop off said lever arm, and means for energizingsaid electro-magnet when the connection is established so that thearmature actuates the coin moving means to move the coin off the leverarm, said coin moving means including fingers spaced apart to receive acom therebetween and permit the same to move the lever arm, sald fingersserving as abutments. to hold the coin in place while the arm-aw ture isstationary and serving to push the coin positively in either directionaccording to the movement of the armature, the finger in front of themoving coin being withdrawn from its path of movement so as to permitits deposlt or return.

7. In a telephone system, the combination of talking and listeninginstrumentalities, signaling mechanism, a prepay box, a lever armpivotally mounted therein and adapted to receive and be depressed by theweight of a coin, a pair'of oppositely polarized electro-magnets havinga common armature pivotally mounted, means connected to said armaturefor holding the coin on the lever arm wvhen the armature is in itsnormal position and for moving the coin in either direction positivelyaccording to the movement of the armature, one of the electro-magnetsbeing energized when a connection with the called station is establishedso that the coin is moved to be deposited, the other electromagnet beingenergized when the receiver of the calling station is replaced on itshook before connection is established with a called station so as tomove the coin for return, said coin moving means including fingersspaced apart to receive a coin therebetween and permit the same to movethe lever arm, said fingers servin as abutments to hold the coin inplace whi e the armature is stationary and-serving to push the coinpositively in either direction according to the movement of thearmature, the finger in front of the moving coin being withdrawn fromits ath of movement so as to permit its deposit or return.

8. In a telephonesystem, the combination of talking and listeninginstrumentalities and a signaling mechanism, a pro-pay box,

means therein for supporting a coin, elecv or positively 9. In atelephone system, the combination energizing said electricallycontrolled means of talking and listening instrumentalities when theconnection with the called station and signaling mechanism, a pre-paybox, is established, so that the coin is moved to 10 means mountedtherein for supporting a be deposited, other electrically controlled 5coin, electrically controlled means for movmeans operable under certainconditions so ing said coin in-one direction so that it will as to movethe coin for return. drop ofi of said lever arm, and means for FRANK L.FISHER.

